Original Article Search for genetic association between IgA nephropathy and candidate genes selected by function or by gene mapping at loci

Background. IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is not generally considered a hereditary disease, even though extensive evi-dence suggests an undefined genetic influence. Linkage analysis identified a number of genome regions that could contain variations linked to IgAN. Methods. In this case–control association study, genes possibly involved in the development of IgAN were inves-tigated. DNA samples from 460 North Italian patients with IgAN and 444 controls were collected. Candidate genes were selected based on their possible functional involve-ment (6 genes) or because of their location within linkage-identified genomic regions IGAN2 and IGAN3 (5 and 13 genes within chromosome 4q26–31 and 17q12–22, respec-tively). One hundred and ninety-two tag and functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were typed with Veracode GoldenGate technology (Illumina). Results. C1GALT1 showed an association with IgA